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ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE

Psychedelic/Space Rock • Multi-National


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Øresund Space Collective picture
Øresund Space Collective biography
Founded in Copenhagen, Denmark in 2004

It all started with some loose jam sessions in the rehearsal rooms of the bands BLAND BLADEN and MANTRIC MUSE. Founded by Scott Heller aka Dr. Space (synth, management) in 2004 ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE (OSC) are a multinational crew which get together as often as possible to play free form improvised space rock music. The band name derives from the Øresund Bridge, connecting Denmark and Sweden since the year 2000. The purpose is to offer another flavour with every new session. This is guaranteed by everlasting line-up changes.

The whole OSC family comprises more than 30 members in the meanwhile, temporarily entrusted by nearly every existing Nordic psych/space band. They have toured all over in Europe whilst collaborating with Sula BASSANA and others. The musical trademark is provided by a grooving backbone in general. This is decorated by playful multiple guitars and a proper proportion of synthesizer and organ input. The interplay is somnambulistic due to a special spirit. All in all their music blends elements of psychedelic, space, dub, jazz and krautrock. Nearly every studio session or live gig has been recorded - the best-of excerpts got a place on several studio albums, starting with the eponymous debut in 2006.

Additionally the band offer several recordings for free via their official website respectively other legal download platforms, for example Internet Archives. The Black Tornado Studios in Copenhagen must be beneficial for the band's spirit - with the result of several highlights. Released on Transubstans 'It's All About Delay' (2006) and 'Black Tomato' (2007) are critically acclaimed albums coming from jam sessions in early 2006. Two years later a different line-up recorded new high quality material at the same place. 'Slip Into The Vortex' and 'Dead Man In Space' have been already released in 2010, a third album is announced.

see also: GLOSSOLALIA (OSC side project)

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE Videos (YouTube and more)


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ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE discography


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ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE top albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

4.19 | 48 ratings
Øresund Space Collective
2006
3.68 | 33 ratings
It's All About Delay
2006
4.04 | 76 ratings
The Black Tomato
2007
3.98 | 30 ratings
Inside Your Head
2008
4.02 | 39 ratings
Good Planets Are Hard to Find
2009
3.69 | 33 ratings
Dead Man in Space
2010
3.93 | 37 ratings
Slip into the Vortex
2010
3.57 | 23 ratings
Entering into the Space Country
2011
3.45 | 26 ratings
Sleeping with the Sunworm
2011
3.77 | 20 ratings
Phaze Your Fears
2012
4.05 | 21 ratings
Give Your Brain a Rest from the Matrix
2012
3.84 | 24 ratings
West, Space & Love
2012
3.54 | 27 ratings
Organic Earthly Flotation
2013
3.91 | 58 ratings
Music for Pogonologists
2014
3.68 | 53 ratings
Different Creatures
2015
3.88 | 53 ratings
West, Space & Love - Vol II
2016
3.74 | 33 ratings
Visions of...
2016
3.88 | 22 ratings
Ode to a Black Hole
2016
3.88 | 22 ratings
Hallucinations Inside the Oracle
2017
3.91 | 13 ratings
Chatoyant Breath
2018
3.69 | 13 ratings
Kybalión
2018
3.50 | 10 ratings
ØSC Meets BMC - Freak Out in the Fjord
2019
3.58 | 12 ratings
Experiments in the Subconscious
2020
3.20 | 11 ratings
Four Riders Take Space Mountain
2020
3.60 | 10 ratings
Relaxing in the Himalayas
2021
3.25 | 8 ratings
Oily Echoes of the Soul
2022
4.02 | 13 ratings
Everyone Is Evil
2023
4.00 | 1 ratings
Carnival in Portugal
2023
5.00 | 1 ratings
The Linguini Sessions
2024

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE Live Albums (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

3.00 | 4 ratings
Live at Roadburn 2010
2011
2.75 | 4 ratings
Live at Kildemose Festival 2008-2010
2013
3.84 | 6 ratings
Hamburg Concerts
2013
2.80 | 5 ratings
Live at Circus Maximus, Koblenz 2013
2014
3.44 | 17 ratings
Out into Space
2015
2.80 | 5 ratings
Live in Trondheim 2007
2016
3.11 | 9 ratings
Little Devil
2016
2.00 | 3 ratings
Live in Karlsruhe 2016
2016
3.85 | 8 ratings
Live in Berlin 2018
2018
4.00 | 3 ratings
Live in Dresden
2022
4.00 | 2 ratings
H​ø​stsabbat 2021
2023

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE Videos (DVD, Blu-ray, VHS etc)

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE Boxset & Compilations (CD, LP, MC, SACD, DVD-A, Digital Media Download)

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE Official Singles, EPs, Fan Club & Promo (CD, EP/LP, MC, Digital Media Download)

2.70 | 7 ratings
Chased by the Space Police
2012

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE Reviews


Showing last 10 reviews only
 Everyone Is Evil by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Studio Album, 2023
4.02 | 13 ratings

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Everyone Is Evil
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by kev rowland
Special Collaborator Honorary Reviewer

4 stars Back in 2006 I was sent the debut album by Transubstans Records of a new collective of improvisational musicians, Øresund Space Collective, and I said, "It is music to play late at night looking at the stars, letting yourself just drift into the universe of their own creation". The band has always had a flux of members coming in and out, mostly from other well-known Scandinavian bands such as Carpet Knights (SE), Mantric Muse (DK), Bland Bladen (SE), Gas Giant (DK), Hooffoot (SE), First band from Outer Space (SE), Siena Root (SE), My Brother the Wind (SE), Agusa (SE), Tangle Edge (NO), The Univerzals (DK), Papir (DK), Black Moon Circle (NO), and there has been just the one constant, Dr. Space on synths. It is strange to think I reviewed their debut and now here I am listening to their 40th (their 27th studio release), with improvisation and space rock still very much at the core of what they do.

Here we have just four tracks, but the opening title cut is in excess of an hour and there is a total playing time in excess of two hours. What this allows the listener to do is truly get inside the album which was recorded by a few different line-ups with only Dr. Space, Jonathan Segel (violin, guitar), and guitarist Luis Simões credited on all tracks. It is difficult to realise this is improvised music as melodies are repeated, structures and tight arrangements created, and it feels highly orchestrated and rehearsed at times, loose at others, which clearly demonstrates the high understanding they have of each other and what they are aiming to achieve. The music moves in different directions yet is always strongly within space rock, never truly falling into the experimental which is often beloved of improvisors, yet somehow creating music which is cogent and articulate. The rhythm section provides the platform, while guitars/synth/Mellotron/violin all take leads or support the others, and one can only imagine everyone working together in the studio taking their cues and directions with head nods and hand signals. For a piece to work as well as the opener yet be that long is nothing of a huge achievement as the listener never loses interest as it moves us through the universe.

It is an album which any fan of this genre will thoroughly enjoy as Øresund Space Collective show that 40 albums in they are still as exciting and interesting as they have always been.

 Everyone Is Evil by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Studio Album, 2023
4.02 | 13 ratings

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Everyone Is Evil
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by DamoXt7942
Forum & Site Admin Group Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams

4 stars Another interesting studio-based creation of chance. "Everyone Is Evil" is their 40th (!) album and 23th (!!) studio-based one released in May 2023. They say this was recorded in a fully improvisational style in September 2022. Their impromptu is well renowned already in their previous works, and we wonder what they meant in this title "Everyone Is Evil" under such a tough situation all over the world (esp. in Eastern Europe).

In the beginning "Part 1", quite impressive is brilliant echoic sitar exudation. For such an improvised performance, their colourful sounds are pretty refined and settled. We get veiled in Indo-Raga-ish flavour and grasp massive comfort. The middle part has been quietized and stabilized fully with flexible guitar playings and relaxing drumming / bass footprints. Very surprising and amazing is that every single melody line was played in a complete impromptu manner. We can be immersed in their 'perfectly synchronized and harmonized' playings. It's easily imagined that they played and recorded casually and sincerely. The last phase features a more complicated rhythmic combination and dreamy melodic crystallization but their improvisational sound collective is cool and delightful. "Part 2" full of muddy dissonant music streams suddenly follows the previous tune. The first part of the second movement sounds more improvisational and more dissected for us. And especially so tough and strict. Anyway this atmospheric effect will gradually be moved and developed dramatically. The violent melody-randomizing guitar launcher is quite fantastic. Also good is ethnic oriental texture produced by each instrument (esp. guitars and percussion). So understandable that they have positively introduced such a tribal orientality or ethnicity. There are some monotonous or invariant interludes indeed but their explosive performance sounds cooler, clearer, and more essential. And it's also good that the last part gets more unificated and rhythmically polished. The third term is more stylish and gorgeous along with synthesizer-oriented kaleidoscopic sound illusions. We can guess such a long psychedelic trip would exhaust them all and make their playings and performances repetitive and horizontal, especially in the middle part of this movement. But hey, not bad that their brilliant sound glitters by the synthesizers are magical. We can also mention that simple is good, can't we? (One of the hidden bonus tracks like "End Of The World As You Thought You Knew It" is good as a bluesy space rock brightly with superb flexible guitar lyricality.) The last "Everyone Is Good (Maybe)" gets much more tranquilized and delicious. ELectric guitar-based sticky repetitive sound construction is basically native and soily. But their mysterious melodic simplicity reminds us of their suggestive message 'goodness is not good' ... is this only for me?

Simplification of this spiritual creation might be for the audience on a long trippy trip I imagine?

 H​ø​stsabbat 2021 by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Live, 2023
4.00 | 2 ratings

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H​ø​stsabbat 2021
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by DamoXt7942
Forum & Site Admin Group Avant/Cross/Neo/Post Teams

4 stars Have a good trip.

Mellow guitar plays, bubbling synthesizer sounds, trippy melodic styles, crazy phantasmagoric violin expressions ... their superb 'live' gift "Høstsabbat 2021" released in March 2023 is a kind of our oasis under such a tough situation like Covid19 pandemic or conflicts all around the world. They launch massive spacey energy all around the venue from the very beginning of "Høstsabbat Jam", in that improvisational freakout jam session full of brilliant sound combinations and another dimensional psychedelia. Their lively appearances can be incredibly expressed via the album due to such a wonderful mixing / mastering by Dr Space, of course the collective discharge fantastic performances on the stage though. The opening could be mentioned as kinda ultimate space rock jam. The second movement "Take The Church Into Space" features slight ethnic flavours and repetitive palpable melodic twists. The rhythmic bases are quite simple but powerful impromptu produced by their strong instruments drive us deeply into the dark sky. Such an energetic improvisation theatre should be enjoyed and accepted in a real venue (what an envy for the live participants).

Through "Norsk Magical Adventure" we can be pleased in a bit slowtempo deserty rock structures with kinky violin plays, juicy guitar counterparts, based upon wacky synthesizer explanations and stabilized drums and percussion performances. Such a mystic space fantasy called "Magical Adventure" is really classic. In the latter part we can get immersed in uptempo meteor shower filled with their bright gemmy techniques. Gracious excitement on the last run and quiet finish are our pleasure. The last track "Colourful Explosions In Your Mind" is sorta gorgeous musical discussion of dissonant violin, dissected guitar, eccentric synthesizer, and relaxed drums / percussion. Something pastoral can be felt via the whole stream, and this atmosphere is another comfort of ours. And fantastic, enchanting is the figure that all of them are completely unified and eventually uplifted ... appropriate for the epilogue of this concert.

Our goodness. We would like to give ourselves to this gig eternally, wouldn't we?

 Live in Dresden by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Live, 2022
4.00 | 3 ratings

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Live in Dresden
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by alainPP

4 stars ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE is this Danish and Swedish musical collective that has been playing space rock in total submersive improvisation since 2004. A liability of 29 albums (33 counted elsewhere) therefore referenced at a minimum, often recorded live and a 10th live declared. ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE known by chance with their eponymous first track from 2006, a disconcerting album concocted by Scott Heller? Dr Space, which takes the name of the bridge linking Denmark to Sweden. A group expanding with a good thirty different musicians, including guitars and synths at the forefront. A group that is therefore in hypnotic, invasive and 'mantranic' trance, an extraordinary psychedelic, spatial, jazzy-krautrock, colorful and well-barrelled group, adept at jam- sessions as in the remote times of certain dinosaur groups.

4 tracks here including "Cosmic Balls Fall" on reverberating guitars and analog keyboards; a sound that puts you in the mood immediately and that does not stop because yes that is the magic of CSOs is that when you are installed, the current flows without interruption. "Cosmic Balls Fall Pt 2" continues with a life-saving musical rest; on notes from the film 'Rencontres du 3e Type', on a DEEP PURPLE solo, on a spaghetti western; of course it is my personal memories that dictate my strike here, in truth the OSC sound gives each of you the unique opportunity to go into an intimate personal psychedelic universe. He pulls more tweaks out of Scott's Pandora's box, the guitars seem to settle down and find a cruising rhythm; the end is softer like a space moment where we have to re-berth the ship. Dr Space cites the musicians present at this evening in reverberation too. "The Barking Lady of Ostepol" occurs, TANGERINE DREAM of yesteryear scratches my ear, the ship is forced to maneuver to return to Aldebaran; that's it the air suddenly comes out, heavy, here we go again; one of the easiest tracks to listen to due to its heavy, hypnotic atmosphere; sudden South American final, but what did I eat last night? "Dripping Brains" is already there, electro forward, Dr Gadget for a while, short hilarious psyche in a good way; I remember again the evocative sound of DEEP PURPLE during their instrumental madness. Good live album or not, gimmick or mantra cannot be described, it is lived... so you had 3/4 hours of my life there in the end. Some will say ah it's often the same thing, but... is your life the same all the time?

ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE makes a compendium of evolving psych rock where crescendos, adrenaline rushes and musical cold sweats are in order; an album that you have to hang on to from the start for fear of not finding the right car and staying on the ground; Dr Space with his Pandora's box vibrates the improvised riffs, the brilliant solos, he increases the bass lines, the sound effects by fiddling with his little magic buttons; he raises the tone, the sound to explode the notes, to transcend them into a divine maelstrom; the music collides, merges to create the ultimate musical melting pot, the one from which nothing emerges; you are bewitched, you wonder how it can still exist in our time; the dynamic remains clear, obvious, progressive until these organoleptic rises where twists, vibrations and sound swirls merge in a final libation. ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE is all that!

 Different Creatures by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Studio Album, 2015
3.68 | 53 ratings

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Different Creatures
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Mellotron Storm
Prog Reviewer

3 stars 3.5 stars. I discovered this band in 2008 and promptly had 3 of their first 4 studio albums and man was I impressed. In the mid 10's I decided to get something more current from them and picked this one up from 2015 based on Michael's 5 star review. I should have connected that the title "Different Creatures" is referring to the variety of songs offered up. I'm not big on variety and especially when we get a double cd worth of music just under 140 minutes. Seven tracks over two cds so we get some long ones folks.

By the way the band is named after the bridge that connects Denmark with Sweden since it was a collaboration between Sweden's BLAND BLADEN and MANTRIC MUSE with the wild card being American Dr. Space who has been the constant on this project that has had over 30 musicians come through it's doors and most from known bands. This recording has two members of GOSTA BERLINGS SAGA, one from SIENNA ROOT, one from MY BROTHER THE WIND and one from AGUSA for example. Dave Schmidt and the PAPIR guys and so many more have also played on past records.

This was recorded live in studio in Denmark over 3 days where the band is based. I almost feel like I should be talking about the tracks that are keeping me from giving this 4 stars over my top three. I'm not big on the shortest track "Juggle The Juice" that almost comes across as a novelty song with those high pitched electronics. "Digestive Raga" is actually pretty good but 30 minutes is too long. "Raga For Jerry G" dedicated to the GRATEFUL DEAD member and we get slide guitar dominating this 20 minute track. I have such a hard time with not connecting the slide guitar with country music. Even if there are some classic moments out there in Rock like "Layla" for example.

"Bon Voyage" is only 6 minutes long and it ends disc one in a positive way for me. Highlight of the whole recording is "The Man From Wales" a 13 1/2 minute track that grooves. Love the organ and guitar in this one. This and the opener "The Ride To Valhalla" are top threes and the opener is a 19 1/2 minute piece opening with spacey winds as we buckle up for the ride. Plenty of violin and electronics in this one. How about the closer of disc two the 45 minute "20 Steps Towards The Invisible Door" I mean it has it all.

My top three would be around 78 minutes of music and would get a very high rating from me. I just can't hit the 4 stars for this one though even though there's probably something here for everyone.

 Out into Space by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Live, 2015
3.44 | 17 ratings

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Out into Space
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by octopus-4
Special Collaborator RIO/Avant/Zeuhl,Neo & Post/Math Teams

3 stars The fact that this album doesn't have any review yet should not surpise: it's a long psychedelic marathon made of 3 CDs and about 3:40 hours of listening, recorded for the 10th anniversary of the first band's live performance.

Each CD is performed by a different lineup. Only Dr.Space is present on all of them.

After few introductive words, the gig starts immediately with "Open The Skies", an instrumental with an early Pink Floyd vibe from the days of Zabrisky Point. A good trip is starting: hypnotic repetitive bass line with keys, drums and guitar enlarging the soundscape. Something changes in the second half of this 16 minutes track, but we are still in the land of Ummagumma with a little hint of Quantum Fantay in the bass line.

Some spacey electronic sounds introduce "Flyby Guitar Hero. The structure is not much different from the previous track, with the instruments jamming over the bass line, but this time there's some more psychedelia and Dr.Space makes an excellent job in the background with the electronics. Søren is a sort of a metronome on drums (like often Nick Mason was). Other 10 sophomore minutes on just two chords.

Has anyone seen Nick? I don't think it's about "that" Nick, even if the drummer is again a sort of metronome. Now we are more in the Quantum Fantay realm than in the early PF, for about 15 minutes, then "The Man Who Ate Planets" is a lesson about how to spend 20 minutes on a single chord.

"The Last Glide" closes the first set. The intro is electronic, then a guitar riff comes. Another psychedelic jam of about 13 minutes. The structure is still the same: repetitive bass line and all the others jamming. Pleasant, but we probably need some chemical help to appreciate it entirely.

So it's not a case that the second set is opened by "Jamming For Your Mind". A good 14 minutes bluesy jam ending with Mr. Space introducing the band members to the audience. Now let's travel to the "Stargate 7431" with uptime drums and a guitar jam. This second band incarnation is less Floydian and more oriented to the soundscapes of Ozric Tentacles. The track fades directly into "Circular Perimeter". There's more drumming, I would have preferred a different production, giving the rhythmic part more evidence. Good guitar work for the most rocking track up to now. There's no pause. "Chocolate Orange Candle" starts where the previous track ends. This part of the CD is like a single long suite. Respect to the first set there's more rock. Sometimes it reminds in the mood to Jimi Hendrix's Experience. It's a live recording, after all.

Few words from the stage. A quick band intro then back to music. "One More Space Out" starts almost funky. It's another 14 minutes jam, but the odd signature and the intensity of the sound send us back to the 60's. Very trippy.

It's now time for the third stage and the monster 34 minutes track "A Long Night Amongst Friends" whose title says much about it. Bass, percussion, electronic winds and it's back to Ummagumma. Just relax and let it flow. The presence of a percussion solo in the middle is remarkable.

After more than 3 hours, "Find A Way Out Of Here" is an appropriate title. It takes 23 minutes to find it inside a delirium, but if you have make it up to now, you can enjoy also this one. The bass plays a two major chords sequence (E/F). This semitone distance gives the possibility of jamming using minor scales on major chords. Not very original but it gives it a sort of oriental mood. Later it changes into what I think is totally improvised. The chord sequence is quite melodic but the lead guitar is often dissonant.

"Let It Groove" is the third and last track of the third and last set. It's the most various and interesting track. A good closer, good to wake the audience up and give them the possibility of find their ways home.

Now let me give it its deserved 3 stars and go to grab a coffee.

 Four Riders Take Space Mountain by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Studio Album, 2020
3.20 | 11 ratings

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Four Riders Take Space Mountain
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Heart of the Matter

3 stars "Four Riders Take Space Mountain" consists of four improvisations recorded back in 2014 and 2016 in the Black Tornado Studio, Copenhagen. From those sessions two previous albums of this band, "Different Creatures" and "Visions Of?", were cut. Also, the front- and back covers feature pictures by M.J.J. Hofman, to whom this album is dedicated.

Concerning the music itself, the rythm section acts like a power station, pumping in all the fuel required to sustain a high level of improvisation, both at level of the intensity and the imagination put into play. The musicians never seem afraid of clashing with each other, and, although that never really happens, sometimes the room seems a bit overcrowded with so many people launching a solo at the same time. There are many moments of good melody and charming spacey atmosphere, interspersed with other not so fortunate.

If you have a heart for jamming bands, this might be for you.

 Live in Berlin 2018 by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Live, 2018
3.85 | 8 ratings

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Live in Berlin 2018
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by Aussie-Byrd-Brother
Special Collaborator Honorary Collaborator

4 stars Fully improvised, no matter whether recording in the studio or performing live, the Øresund Space Collective return with a double CD set `Live in Berlin 2018', actually their twenty-ninth release in just under fifteen years! Recorded on the last show of a nine concert tour that saw them performing in Berlin for the first time, guitar and keyboard-heavy spontaneous space-rock is their sound, and as expected from the group it's another delirious trip of the colourful and lengthy instrumental jams that they always excel at.

Opener `Improv to the Other Side' is the band at their most unhurried and joyous, a floating drift of slow-burn guitar dreaminess and flighty synth trills, reminding instantly of their previous `Out Into Space' live release from 2015 that saw the band at their most chilled, and it takes flight for an up-tempo sprint in the second half. The dusty violin that weaves in and out of `Sneaky Snake Jam' sounds like Embryo's `Steig Aus' making sweet love to the Ozric Tentacles, with permeating eastern moods infiltrating the lightest of near-reggae touches and swirling synth wisps between biting guitar wails and strident percussion stomps.

The instantly up-tempo groover `Henk's Jam-o-Rama' that kicks off the second disc straightaway picks up in fire with a flurry of relentless drumming urging the piece constantly forwards, a snarling chugging guitar grind rising over spiralling synth effects that captures a Hawkwind-like grunt (and dig Dr Space's manic electric piano run in the middle!) before a smouldering wail to simmer down on in the climax.

The tough `Freaks of Berlin' is overloaded with slithering, dirty and bluesy twin guitar and bass grooves, but best of all is the closer `Another Jam for Sabine'. This cracking jam begins as a laid-back eastern-flavoured meandering raga, all wisps of Theremin flitting about relentless percussion patterings, rising/falling synth winds and ragged violin cuts, eventually melting into a manic, thrashing and punishing surge of mantra-like guitar strangulations before the most mellow of come-downs.

You can't go wrong with any of the ØSC releases, but `Live in Berlin 2018' particularly boasts a perfect balance of alternating tranquil and frenetic moods, frazzled heavy grooves and endlessly out-of-control drumming behind infectious synth-noodling! If unpredictable and vibrant psych/space jams are your thing, no one do them better than this crew.

Four stars...and don't delay in picking up one of the 500 CD copies - not many left!

 Visions of... by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Studio Album, 2016
3.74 | 33 ratings

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Visions of...
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by WFV

3 stars Another OSC album, not much has changed since the last one. As a middle aged male from the US I'd categorize this music as jam band if you held my feet to the fire, but in the grand musical scheme this is progressive rock all the way. No new ground is tread of course but fans of the spacejam guitarsynth sound should be very pleased. The highlight for me is Above the Corner which uses the bass riff from Billy Cobham's Stratus to venture into a sixteen minute plus jam. Sometimes OSC loses me with their thirty and forty minute jams but I can digest up to twenty minutes or so. Honestly I think the reason I like this group so much is they embody the Zappa attitude that his music was one continuously flowing piece. Very well performed and worth seeking out.
 Chatoyant Breath by ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE album cover Studio Album, 2018
3.91 | 13 ratings

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Chatoyant Breath
Øresund Space Collective Psychedelic/Space Rock

Review by raigor

4 stars Here is a new album by the most marketable and successful nowadays impro-instrumental Space-Psyche-Rock ensemble, ØRESUND SPACE COLLECTIVE founded and led by Scott 'Dr. Space' Heller. It had been a long time since the main touring band of ØSC entered the studio. The music was performed and recorded in Black Tornado studio, Kopenhagen in January 2017 on the occasion of the US desert-rock legend Gary Arce "was in town and wanted to jam". The result is monstrously grandiose double-disc album, "Chatoyant Breath" (released as 2xCD/2xLP by Space Rock Productions).

I should say that that the current entry of "Chatoyant Breath" is not exactly correct. It would be more right to present here the full album version which consists of 5 tracks clocking in at approximately 136 minute. And this full-version is available only as 2xCD edition:

CD 1 - 1. Peaceful Patterns (28:37) 2. Chatoyant Breath (36:08) CD 2 - 3. Angular Ambrosia (28:02) 4. Turbulent Trepidation (23:21) 5. Celestial Sensation (19:23)

Why it's important? First, because vinyl/digital versions do not include "Celeatial Sensation" - while it's one of the two tracks featuring all three guitarists in the ØSC line-up: Gary Arce (of Yawning Man, Ten East, Zun, etc.), Nicklas Sørensen (of Papir), and Nicholas Hill (of The Univerzals). Second, because the original flow of the album is broken in the vinyl/digital versions - consider that some tracks on the album are bridged, like "Peaceful Patterns" and "Chatoyant Breath" on CD1. Just have this in mind when choosing to purchase your version of "Chatoyant Breath".

Anyway, this album in some way differs from ØSC recent recordings as there are no any aesthetic or stylistic ideas-visions behind it. This is free-loose-end impro-instrumental Jam-Rock in its purest and natural form though tinged with multiple synth-space effects. The soloing, improvising, and dueling guitarists as well as the grooving rhythm section featuring bassist Jiri Jon Hjort (of The Univerzals, Fri Galaxe) and drummer Martin Bjerregaard (of Psyched Out Janis, Fri Galaxe, The Univerzals, Gas Giant, etc) are at ground zero throughout the music context. It doesn't mean that the role of synth-gurus Dr. Space and Mogens Pedersen (of The Univerzals) is not important though - without the cosmos of swirling-n-bubbling effects generated by these two, the music would probably be similar to primordial Desert-Stoner/Acid-Rock jam from early 90's.

But what we have here is excellently crafted Psychedelic-Space-Rock instrumental improvisations in a wide range of moods and emotions - from more spaced out , relaxed, and exploratory jams (on CD1) towards more weaving, riffing, tickling and scratching your mind action tracks (on CD2). Summing up, everyone who enjoys improvised instrumental Psyche-Rock beyond compositional forms will find quite a lot catching and mind-bending things on "Chatoyant Breath". Not to be missed!

Thanks to rivertree for the artist addition. and to Quinino for the last updates

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